In this monograph the authors give a systematic approach to the probabilistic properties of the fixed point equation X=AX+B. A probabilistic study of the stochastic recurrence equation X_t=A_tX_{t-1}+B_t for real- and matrix-valued random variables A_t, where (A_t,B_t) constitute an iid sequence, is provided. The classical theory for these equations, including the existence and uniqueness of a stationary solution, the tail behavior with special emphasis on power law behavior, moments and support, is presented. The authors collect recent asymptotic results on extremes, point processes, partial sums (central limit theory with special emphasis on infinite variance stable limit theory), large deviations, in the univariate and multivariate cases, and they further touch on the related topics of smoothing transforms, regularly varying sequences and random iterative systems. The text gives an introduction to the Kesten-Goldie theory for stochastic recurrence equations of the type X_t=A_tX_{t-1}+B_t. It provides the classical results of Kesten, Goldie, Guivarc'h, and others, and gives an overview of recent results on the topic. It presents the state-of-the-art results in the field of affine stochastic recurrence equations and shows relations with non-affine recursions and multivariate regular variation.

A Levy process is a continuous-time analogue of a random walk, and as such, is at the cradle of modern theories of stochastic processes. Martingales, Markov processes, and diffusions are extensions and generalizations of these processes. In the past, representatives of the Levy class were considered most useful for applications to either Brownian motion or the Poisson process. Nowadays the need for modeling jumps, bursts, extremes and other irregular behavior of phenomena in nature and society has led to a renaissance of the theory of general Levy processes. Researchers and practitioners in fields as diverse as physics, meteorology, statistics, insurance, and finance have rediscovered the simplicity of Levy processes and their enormous flexibility in modeling tails, dependence and path behavior.

This volume, with an excellent introductory preface, describes the state-of-the-art of this rapidly evolving subject with special emphasis on the non-Brownian world. Leading experts present surveys of recent developments, or focus on some most promising applications. Despite its special character, every topic is aimed at the non- specialist, keen on learning about the new exciting face of a rather aged class of processes. An extensive bibliography at the end of each article makes this an invaluable comprehensive reference text. For the researcher and graduate student, every article contains open problems and points out directions for futurearch.

The accessible nature of the work makes this an ideal introductory text for graduate seminars in applied probability, stochastic processes, physics, finance, and telecommunications, and a unique guide to the world of Levy processes.

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Empirical process techniques for independent data have been used for many years in statistics and probability theory. These techniques have proved very useful for studying asymptotic properties of parametric as well as non-parametric statistical procedures. Recently, the need to model the dependence structure in data sets from many different subject areas such as finance, insurance, and telecommunications has led to new developments concerning the empirical distribution function and the empirical process for dependent, mostly stationary sequences. This work gives an introduction to this new theory of empirical process techniques, which has so far been scattered in the statistical and probabilistic literature, and surveys the most recent developments in various related fields. Key features: A thorough and comprehensive introduction to the existing theory of empirical process techniques for dependent data * Accessible surveys by leading experts of the most recent developments in various related fields * Examines empirical process techniques for dependent data, useful for studying parametric and non-parametric statistical procedures * Comprehensive bibliographies * An overview of applications in various fields related to empirical processes: e.g., spectral analysis of time-series, the bootstrap for stationary sequences, extreme value theory, and the empirical process for mixing dependent observations, including the case of strong dependence. To date this book is the only comprehensive treatment of the topic in book literature. It is an ideal introductory text that will serve as a reference or resource for classroom use in the areas of statistics, time-series analysis, extreme value theory, point process theory, and applied probability theory. Contributors: P. Ango Nze, M.A. Arcones, I. Berkes, R. Dahlhaus, J. Dedecker, H.G. Dehling,

In this monograph the authors give a systematic approach to the probabilistic properties of the fixed point equation X=AX+B. A probabilistic study of the stochastic recurrence equation X_t=A_tX_{t-1}+B_t for real- and matrix-valued random variables A_t, where (A_t,B_t) constitute an iid sequence, is provided. The classical theory for these equations, including the existence and uniqueness of a stationary solution, the tail behavior with special emphasis on power law behavior, moments and support, is presented. The authors collect recent asymptotic results on extremes, point processes, partial sums (central limit theory with special emphasis on infinite variance stable limit theory), large deviations, in the univariate and multivariate cases, and they further touch on the related topics of smoothing transforms, regularly varying sequences and random iterative systems. The text gives an introduction to the Kesten-Goldie theory for stochastic recurrence equations of the type X_t=A_tX_{t-1}+B_t. It provides the classical results of Kesten, Goldie, Guivarc'h, and others, and gives an overview of recent results on the topic. It presents the state-of-the-art results in the field of affine stochastic recurrence equations and shows relations with non-affine recursions and multivariate regular variation.

A Levy process is a continuous-time analogue of a random walk, and as such, is at the cradle of modern theories of stochastic processes. Martingales, Markov processes, and diffusions are extensions and generalizations of these processes. In the past, representatives of the Levy class were considered most useful for applications to either Brownian motion or the Poisson process. Nowadays the need for modeling jumps, bursts, extremes and other irregular behavior of phenomena in nature and society has led to a renaissance of the theory of general Levy processes. Researchers and practitioners in fields as diverse as physics, meteorology, statistics, insurance, and finance have rediscovered the simplicity of Levy processes and their enormous flexibility in modeling tails, dependence and path behavior. This volume, with an excellent introductory preface, describes the state-of-the-art of this rapidly evolving subject with special emphasis on the non-Brownian world. Leading experts present surveys of recent developments, or focus on some most promising applications. Despite its special character, every topic is aimed at the non- specialist, keen on learning about the new exciting face of a rather aged class of processes. An extensive bibliography at the end of each article makes this an invaluable comprehensive reference text. For the researcher and graduate student, every article contains open problems and points out directions for futurearch. The accessible nature of the work makes this an ideal introductory text for graduate seminars in applied probability, stochastic processes, physics, finance, and telecommunications, and a unique guide to the world of Levy processes.

Empirical process techniques for independent data have been used for many years in statistics and probability theory. These techniques have proved very useful for studying asymptotic properties of parametric as well as non-parametric statistical procedures. Recently, the need to model the dependence structure in data sets from many different subject areas such as finance, insurance, and telecommunications has led to new developments concerning the empirical distribution function and the empirical process for dependent, mostly stationary sequences. This work gives an introduction to this new theory of empirical process techniques, which has so far been scattered in the statistical and probabilistic literature, and surveys the most recent developments in various related fields. Key features: A thorough and comprehensive introduction to the existing theory of empirical process techniques for dependent data * Accessible surveys by leading experts of the most recent developments in various related fields * Examines empirical process techniques for dependent data, useful for studying parametric and non-parametric statistical procedures * Comprehensive bibliographies * An overview of applications in various fields related to empirical processes: e.g., spectral analysis of time-series, the bootstrap for stationary sequences, extreme value theory, and the empirical process for mixing dependent observations, including the case of strong dependence. To date this book is the only comprehensive treatment of the topic in book literature. It is an ideal introductory text that will serve as a reference or resource for classroom use in the areas of statistics, time-series analysis, extreme value theory, point process theory, and applied probability theory. Contributors: P. Ango Nze, M.A. Arcones, I. Berkes, R. Dahlhaus, J. Dedecker, H.G. Dehling,

Both in insurance and in finance applications, questions involving extremal events (such as large insurance claims, large fluctuations in financial data, stock market shocks, risk management, ...) play an increasingly important role. This book sets out to bridge the gap between the existing theory and practical applications both from a probabilistic as well as from a statistical point of view. Whatever new theory is presented is always motivated by relevant real-life examples. The numerous illustrations and examples, and the extensive bibliography make this book an ideal reference text for students, teachers and users in the industry of extremal event methodology.

"Offers a mathematical introduction to non-life insurance and, at the same time, to a multitude of applied stochastic processes. It gives detailed discussions of the fundamental models for claim sizes, claim arrivals, the total claim amount, and their probabilistic properties....The reader gets to know how the underlying probabilistic structures allow one to determine premiums in a portfolio or in an individual policy." --Zentralblatt fur Didaktik der Mathematik"

Modelling with the Ito integral or stochastic differential equations has become increasingly important in various applied fields, including physics, biology, chemistry and finance. However, stochastic calculus is based on a deep mathematical theory.

This book is suitable for the reader without a deep mathematical background. It gives an elementary introduction to that area of probability theory, without burdening the reader with a great deal of measure theory. Applications are taken from stochastic finance. In particular, the Black -- Scholes option pricing formula is derived. The book can serve as a text for a course on stochastic calculus for non-mathematicians or as elementary reading material for anyone who wants to learn about Ito calculus and/or stochastic finance.